TEAMS SET UP TO LOOK INTO CRACKDOWN DEATHS

The Narcotics Control Board has set up teams to examine the deaths of
2,500 people who perished last year during the war on drugs.

Pol Lt-Gen Chidchai Wannasathit, secretary-general of the Office of
the Narcotics Control Board, said three teams comprising staff from
the Attorney-General's Office, the Justice Ministry and law
enforcement officers would investigate the cause of death in each case.

Police had also set up a working group to look into the cases, he
said, after His Majesty the King urged an inquiry during his birthday
speech last December.

Critics believe authorities had a direct hand in executing drug
suspects. The government said traffickers killed each other to cut any
link to themselves.

Pol Lt-Gen Chidchai said he would send the report to the government
before releasing it to the public. The government would launch another
drug suppression campaign on Oct 4-Nov 3, he said.